The family of a senior citizen who died from injuries sustained in a highway crash is asking for help with funeral expenses, according to their website.
Tomas Medina Castaneda, 87, died in a hospital Saturday after being removed from life support, according to a NBC 7 report. The van he was in flipped on the State Route 54 in Paradise Hills.
On their Gofundme page, the family wrote: “We are raising funds to cover the costs of his funeral and having his body laid to rest in Mexico. The family appreciates your support in this time of need. We thank you beforehand for all the kind words and gestures that have been expressed so far.”
The family has a $10,000 goal. As of Sunday, $1,030 has been raised. Castaneda and five others were hurt after the van transporting them overturned Friday morning on State Route 54 in the community of Paradise Hills.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m. Friday, the westbound vehicle, which had about eight people aboard, careened off the SR-54 near South Woodman Street, crashed through a guardrail and came to rest on the driver’s side in a center median, the California Highway Patrol said.
The van’s driver had been headed to St. Paul’s PACE Center in Chula Vista, according to NBC 7.
While three other senior citizens in the van suffered minor injuries and were treated at Scripps Mercy Hospital, Castaneda suffered a concussion along with a severe cut to one of his legs and was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, NBC 7 reported.
Castaneda was removed from life support after doctors said he was too fragile to undergo surgery, a family member told NBC 7.
— City News Service
